The Agency Management and Profitability Conference (AMPC) is PIA’s largest association event of the year. This annual event is designed to provide you with numerous opportunities for professional development, continuing education and networking. This year’s AMPC, to be held Sept. 23-24, 2010, will not only feature a new location, but a new format and agenda that will allow for more activities and increased opportunities for networking, including a panel discussion with insurance agents, company executives and industry leaders, an opening luncheon, industry awards dinner, and a formal breakfast held in conjunction with the Annual Business Meeting and Conferment Ceremony. PIA will also feature an exhibit hall in a new and expanded space.

New Location in Downtown Columbus
AMPC will be held at a new location in downtown Columbus - the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel. This convenient downtown location will provide PIA members with more visibility among industry leaders, state government officials and company representatives. 2010 will be an important election year for Ohio’s state government, and this year’s AMPC location is right in the middle of the action. The new location will provide PIA exhibitors with a larger and more open exhibition space. The hotel is easily accessible from major highways and free parking for AMPC attendees is available in the hotel garage.

Opening Luncheon with Keynote Speaker
PIA’s 2010 AMPC will kick off with a luncheon featuring PIA President John Burtch, followed by keynote speaker, Dr. Robert P. Hartwig, CPCU, president of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), who will discuss the economic climate and its impact on the insurance industry. The economy has affected the way many people do business, and Hartwig will provide expert guidance through these difficult times.

Since joining the I.I.I. in 1998 as an economist and becoming chief economist in 1999, Dr. Hartwig has focused his work on improving understanding of key insurance issues across all industry stakeholders, including media, consumers, insurers, producers, regulators, legislators and investors. Dr. Hartwig previously served as director of economic research and senior economist with the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) in Boca Raton, Florida, where he performed rate of return and cost of capital modeling and testified at workers’ compensation rate hearings in many states. He has also worked as senior economist for the Swiss Reinsurance Group in New York and as senior statistician for the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the American Economic Association, the American Risk and Insurance Association, the National Association of Business Economics and the CPCU Society.

Insurance Industry Panel Discussion
The poor economy has impacted many small business owners, including the independent insurance agent. Many agents have also been affected by ongoing state and federal issues. Following Dr. Hartwig’s remarks, you will have the opportunity to hear from industry experts, including independent agents, insurance company executives, and other leaders.

The two-hour panel discussion will cover current topics affecting the insurance industry and its future, including several state and federal issues facing the insurance industry. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the moderator and panel participants.

Dean Fadel, vice president of legislative affairs for the Ohio Insurance Institute will serve as moderator of the panel, which includes:

Doug Anderson, chief policy officer at the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI). Anderson oversees policy, legislation and government affairs for ODI. His work focuses on modernizing state and federal insurance laws, establishing sound financial and regulatory practices, and improving Ohio’s insurance markets. He also oversees initiatives to expand access to health insurance coverage and improve the cost and quality of the health care system.

Terry Kelso, CPCU, CPIA, of Associated Insurance Agencies, Inc. in Westerville. Kelso is a former PIA president and board member. As chairman of PIA’s Company Relations Committee, he understands the important relationship between agencies and companies and is familiar with industry issues from both an agency and company perspective.

John Koetz, CIC, CPCU, of W.E. Davis Insurance Agency, Inc. in Columbus. Koetz is a former PIA president and board member, and an active member of PIA. He has testified before the state legislature on numerous pieces of legislation on behalf of PIA, and recently testified before the Ohio house Insurance Committee on House Bill 300, the agent licensing bill.

Randy O’Conner, CPCU, AIM, vice president, underwriting and sales for Ohio Mutual Insurance Group in Bucyrus. O’Conner has been with Ohio Mutual since 1999, and has served in his current role since July 2005. His previous experience includes positions at Motorists Mutual, the Atlantic Companies, and Beacon Insurance Company and as part of the founding management team for Great Oaks Insurance Company.

Jim Raussen, director of insurance and financial services for the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). Raussen is the chief state official specializing in the retention and growth of the financial services industry in Ohio. He is also responsible for creating an Insurance Industry Advisory Board, made up of individuals from the private sector, who worked in collaboration with ODI, ODOD and the Ohio Board of Regents to develop a plan to enhance the business climate of Ohio’s insurance industry and retain and create insurance industry jobs within the state.

Robert P. Restrepo, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Sate Auto Insurance Companies in Columbus. Restrepo has a broad background in the national and regional property casualty insurance industry, and a strong commitment to the independent agency system. His varied experience includes senior executive roles at Aetna, Travelers, Hanover, and most recently, with Main Street America Group in Jacksonville, Florida. Restrepo has also served on a number of industry and community boards, including the American Insurance Association where he was chairman in 2003.

PIA Industry Awards Dinner
PIA will be hosting an industry awards dinner to honor deserving individuals within the independent insurance agency system. The awards ceremony will be separate this year from the Annual Business Meeting and Conferment Ceremony to allow for more time and attention for both events. The dinner, which will feature a keynote speaker, will allow time to recognize PIA members and industry leaders in a more formal setting. PIA will honor deserving individuals who have shown exemplary service to PIA, the insurance industry and their community. PIA members had the opportunity to nominate deserving individuals for the following awards: Community Service, Excellence in Leadership, Industry Person of the Year and Rising Star Award/Intern of the Year. In addition, PIA will hand out awards for Chairman of the Year, Jack V. Hedges Educator of the Year and CSR of the Year.

Annual Business Meeting and Conferment Ceremony Breakfast
The Annual Business Meeting and Conferment Ceremony will be held in conjunction with a sit down breakfast Friday morning. PIA will recognize several members who will be awarded their CRM, CIC and/or CISR designations. Their achievement is one of distinction and PIA is pleased to have this opportunity to honor them.

Professional Development
Concurrent sessions – a management track and a sales track – will be held throughout the conference. The management track will highlight topics such as producer training and management; how to develop the qualities of an effective producer; and the changing demands of consumers and the opportunities these changes create for agents. The sale track will highlight topics such as social networking in insurance, sales best practices, and ways to identify and communicate the skills buyers perceive as valuable.

Presenters include, Ted Janusz, business adviser on face-to-face and electronic social networking, Mike Jones, CPCU, AAI, ARM, a risk management consultant and adjunct faculty member at Georgia State University, Department of Risk Management and Insurance, and Edwin L. Lamont, CIC, CRM, president and founder of Lamont Consulting Group, Inc.

With all AMPC has to offer this year, you won’t want to miss a single event. Register to attend today!